South Africa-Politics-Coronavirus

S/Africa’s ruling ANC postpones meetings over coronavirus

APA-Pretoria (South Africa)

South Africa’s ruling African National Congress has postponed all party meetings “until further notice” due to the deadly coronavirus pandemic, President Cyril Ramaphosa announced on Tuesday.

Ramaphosa said the decision was made after an extended session of the party’s powerful National Working Committee in Pretoria on Tuesday.

According to him, the party decided to do this following an impact assessment review of stringent measures his government introduced on Sunday to combat the spread of coronavirus (COVID-19) in the country.

He said the overcrowded public transport system and equally congested informal settlements posed a challenge in the country’s efforts to contain the coronavirus.

With Easter only days away, Ramaphosa is on Thursday expected to meet the country's religious leaders to get their input after his government's decision to prohibit gatherings of more than 100.

Easter is one of the most important events on the Christian calendar, and will this year be celebrated from 10-13 April.

In a message on Sunday declaring the country as a “state of national disaster”, Ramaphosa told South Africans to refrain from gathering in large groups – apart from banning new arrivals from nine overseas countries from entering the country till further notice.